Food Storage Container

ABSTRACT

A food storage container for watertight storage of food items, such as sandwiches, includes a tube. The tube comprises an annular wall that extends from a first end to a second end, defining an internal space. The second end is closed and the first end is open. A gasket is sealably coupled to the tube proximate to the first end. A cap, which is complementary to the first end, is configured to reversibly couple to the tube. The tube is configured to insert a first food item through the first end into the internal space. The cap is positioned to couple to the tube. The cap sealably couples to the gasket to sealably close the first end, such that the internal space is substantially air and water tight.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIE THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The disclosure and prior art relates to containers and more particularly pertains to a new container for watertight storage of food items, such as sandwiches.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a tube. The tube comprises an annular wall that extends from a first end to a second end, defining an internal space. The second end is closed and the first end is open. A gasket is sealably coupled to the tube proximate to the first end. A cap, which is complementary to the first end, is configured to reversibly couple to the tube. The tube is configured to insert a first food item through the first end into the internal space. The cap is positioned to couple to the tube. The cap sealably couples to the gasket to sealably close the first end, such that the internal space is substantially air and water tight.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a food storage container according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new container embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the food storage container 10 generally comprises a tube 12. The tube 12 comprises an annular wall 14 that extends from a first end 16 to a second end 18, defining an internal space 20. The second end 18 is closed and the first end 16 is open. The tube 12 is configured to insert a first food item through the first end 16 into the internal space 20. In one embodiment, the tube 12 is circularly shaped when viewed longitudinally. In another embodiment, the tube 12 comprises plastic.

A gasket 22 is sealably coupled to the tube 12 proximate to the first end 16. In one embodiment, the gasket 22 comprises rubber. In another embodiment, the gasket 22 comprises an O-ring 24.

A cap 26, which is complementary to the first end 16, is configured to reversibly couple to the tube 12. The cap 26 is positioned to couple to the tube 12. The cap 26 sealably couples to the gasket 22 to sealably close the first end 16, such that the internal space 20 is substantially air and water tight. In one embodiment, the cap 26 comprises an annular sidewall 28 that extends from a first endpoint 30 to a second endpoint 32, defining an interior space 34. The first endpoint 30 is closed and the second endpoint 32 is open. In another embodiment, the cap 26 comprises plastic.

A first coupler 36 is coupled to the first end 16 of the tube 12. In one embodiment, the first coupler 36 comprises male threads 38. A second coupler 40 is coupled to the second endpoint 32 of the cap 26. The second coupler 40 is complementary to the first coupler 36. The second coupler 40 is positioned on the cap 26 such that the second coupler 40 is positioned to couple to the first coupler 36 to sealably couple the cap 26 to the tube 12, wherein the internal space 20 is substantially air and water tight.

In one embodiment, the container 10 comprises a plate 42 that is substantially complementary to an inner circumference 44 of the cap 26. The plate 42 is configured to reversibly couple to the annular sidewall 28 and defines a compartment 46 within the interior space 34 of the cap 26. The plate 42 is positioned to couple to the cap 26. The plate 42 is positioned to separate a second food item that is positioned in the compartment 46 from the internal space 20 of the tube 12. In another embodiment, the plate 42 comprises plastic.

A first connector 48 is coupled to the annular sidewall 28 and is positioned in the interior space 34. In one embodiment, the first connector 48 comprises a quarter-turn female thread 50. In another embodiment, the first connector 48 is positioned proximate to a midpoint 52 of the annular sidewall 28. A second connector 54 is coupled to a perimeter 56 of the plate 42. The second connector 54 is complementary to the first connector 48. The second connector 54 is positioned on the plate 42 such that the second connector 54 is positioned to couple to the first connector 48 to couple the plate 42 to the cap 26.

In use, the tube 12 is configured to insert a first food item through the first end 16 into the internal space 20. The plate 42 is positioned to couple to the cap 26 to separate a second food item that is positioned in the compartment 46 from the internal space 20 of the tube 12. The cap 26 is positioned to couple to the tube 12. The cap 26 sealably couples to the gasket 22 to sealably close the first end 16 such that the internal space 20 is substantially air and water tight.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A food storage container comprising: a tube comprising an annular wall extending from a first end to a second end defining an internal space, said second end being closed, said first end being open; a gasket sealably coupled to said tube proximate to said first end; a cap complementary to said first end, said cap being configured for reversibly coupling to said tube; and wherein said tube is configured for insertion of a first food item through said first end into said internal space, wherein said cap is positioned to couple to said tube such that said cap sealably couples to said gasket to sealably close said first end such that said internal space is substantially air and water tight.
 2. The container of claim 1, further including said tube being circularly shaped when viewed longitudinally.
 3. The container of claim 1, further including said tube and said cap comprising plastic.
 4. The container of claim 1, further including said gasket comprising rubber.
 5. The container of claim 1, further including said gasket comprising an O-ring.
 6. The container of claim 1, further including said cap comprising an annular sidewall extending from a first endpoint to a second endpoint defining an interior space, said first endpoint being closed, said second endpoint being open.
 7. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a first coupler coupled to said first end of said tube; a second coupler coupled to said second endpoint of said cap, said second coupler being complementary to said first coupler; and wherein said second coupler is positioned on said cap such that said second coupler is positioned to couple to said first coupler to sealably couple said cap to said tube, such that said internal space is substantially air and water tight.
 8. The container of claim 7, further including said first coupler comprising male threads.
 9. The container of claim 6, further including a plate substantially complementary to an inner circumference of said cap, said plate being configured for reversibly coupling to said annular sidewall defining a compartment within said interior space of said cap, wherein said plate is positioned to couple to said cap such that said plate is positioned to separate a second food item positioned in said compartment from the internal space of said tube.
 10. The container of claim 9, further including comprising: a first connector coupled to said annular sidewall and positioned in said interior space; a second connector coupled to a perimeter of said plate, said second connector being complementary to said first connector; and wherein said second connector is positioned on said plate such that said second connector is positioned to couple to said first connector to couple said plate to said cap.
 11. The container of claim 10, further including said first connector comprising a quarter-turn female thread.
 12. The container of claim 10, further including said first connector being positioned proximate to a midpoint of said annular sidewall.
 13. The container of claim 9, further including said plate comprising plastic.
 14. A food storage container comprising: a tube comprising an annular wall extending from a first end to a second end defining an internal space, said second end being closed, said first end being open such that said tube is configured for insertion of a first food item through said first end into said internal space, said tube being circularly shaped when viewed longitudinally, said tube comprising plastic; a gasket sealably coupled to said tube proximate to said first end, said gasket comprising rubber, said gasket comprising an O-ring; a cap complementary to said first end, said cap being configured for reversibly coupling to said tube, wherein said cap is positioned to couple to said tube such that said cap sealably couples to said gasket to sealably close said first end such that said internal space is substantially air and water tight, said cap comprising an annular sidewall extending from a first endpoint to a second endpoint defining an interior space, said first endpoint being closed, said second endpoint being open, said cap comprising plastic; a first coupler coupled to said first end of said tube, said first coupler comprising male threads; a second coupler coupled to said second endpoint of said cap, said second coupler being complementary to said first coupler, wherein said second coupler is positioned on said cap such that said second coupler is positioned to couple to said first coupler to sealably couple said cap to said tube, such that said internal space is substantially air and water tight; a plate substantially complementary to an inner circumference of said cap, said plate being configured for reversibly coupling to said annular sidewall defining a compartment within said interior space of said cap, wherein said plate is positioned to couple to said cap such that said plate is positioned to separate a second food item positioned in said compartment from the internal space of said tube, said plate comprising plastic; a first connector coupled to said annular sidewall and positioned in said interior space, said first connector comprising a quarter-turn female thread, said first connector being positioned proximate to a midpoint of said annular sidewall; a second connector coupled to a perimeter of said plate, said second connector being complementary to said first connector, wherein said second connector is positioned on said plate such that said second connector is positioned to couple to said first connector to couple said plate to said cap; and wherein said tube is configured for insertion of a first food item through said first end into said internal space, wherein said plate is positioned to couple to said cap such that said plate is positioned to separate a second food item positioned in said compartment from the internal space of said tube, wherein said cap is positioned to couple to said tube such that said cap sealably couples to said gasket to sealably close said first end such that said internal space is substantially air and water tight. 